Method for testing a low power radio frequency (RF) data packet signal transceiver

ABSTRACT

Method for testing a radio frequency (RF) data packet signal transceiver device under test (DUT) including communicating via at least one of multiple available signal channels. Data packets exchanged between a tester and DUT as a normal part of a communication link initiation sequence are selectively exchanged and suppressed to enable testing of the DUT without requiring inclusion of special drivers within the DUT, special test software within the tester or establishment of a synchronized communication link between the tester and DUT. For example, in the case of a Bluetooth low energy transceiver, advertisement, scan request and scan response data packets can be used in such manner.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to testing of a low power radio frequency(RF) data packet signal transceiver, and in particular, to testing sucha device using data packets exchanged between a tester and the device asa normal part of a communication link initiation sequence.

Many of today's electronic devices use wireless signal technologies forboth connectivity and communications purposes. Because wireless devicestransmit and receive electromagnetic energy, and because two or morewireless devices have the potential of interfering with the operationsof one another by virtue of their signal frequencies and power spectraldensities, these devices and their wireless signal technologies mustadhere to various wireless signal technology standard specifications.

When designing such wireless devices, engineers take extra care toensure that such devices will meet or exceed each of their includedwireless signal technology prescribed standard-based specifications.Furthermore, when these devices are later being manufactured inquantity, they are tested to ensure that manufacturing defects will notcause improper operation, including their adherence to the includedwireless signal technology standard-based specifications.

For testing these devices following their manufacture and assembly,current wireless device test systems typically employ testing subsystemsfor providing test signals to each device under test (DUT) and analyzingsignals received from each DUT. Some subsystems (often referred to as“testers”) include one or more vector signal generators (VSG) forproviding the source, or test, signals to be transmitted to the DUT, andone or more vector signal analyzers (VSA) for analyzing signals producedby the DUT. The production of test signals by a VSG and signal analysisperformed by a VSA are generally programmable (e.g., through use of aninternal programmable controller or an external programmable controllersuch as a personal computer) so as to allow each to be used for testinga variety of devices for adherence to a variety of wireless signaltechnology standards with differing frequency ranges, bandwidths andsignal modulation characteristics.

Testing of wireless devices typically involves testing of theirreceiving and transmitting subsystems. The tester will typically send aprescribed sequence of test data packet signals to a DUT, e.g., usingdifferent frequencies, power levels, and/or modulation technologies, todetermine if the DUT receiving subsystem is operating properly.Similarly, the DUT will send test data packet signals at a variety offrequencies, power levels, and/or modulation technologies to determineif the DUT transmitting subsystem is operating properly.

Low power RF data packet signal transceivers often exchange data packetsas a part of a sequence to initiate a communication link. One example isa personal area network (PAN) technology known as Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE, or also known as “Bluetooth Smart”), which is designed to be veryconservative in its energy requirements while providing connectivitybetween a central device (“client”) and a peripheral device (“server”)once a connection is established. Examples of such devices include a“smartphone” as a central device and a pulse-rate sensor connected to auser's wrist as a peripheral device.

The original Bluetooth devices were designed to provide wireless dataconnections for mobile applications such as on-air headsets tocellphones and portable speakers to MP3 playback devices. The newer BLEdevices are designed to be simpler and to convey data in smallerquantities and at lower speeds to minimize power use, thereby preservingbattery life and enabling operation over extended periods of time.

During manufacturing, when a BLE subsystem is being tested, aninput/output (I/O) port is available to facilitate conductive testing ofreceiver and transmitter physical-level behavior as well as DUT control.However, once the BLE subsystem is combined with the server peripheraldevice (e.g., a sensor), the I/O port is typically no longer available(e.g., removed or encapsulated). Hence, testing at that stage must beperformed wirelessly using radiative signaling (e.g., via wireless RFsignals). However, since separate DUT control is rarely available (e.g.,neither a conductive signal path nor a wireless control signal channelis available), such testing relies upon establishing a wirelesscommunication link between a tester and the BLE-based peripheraldevice-under-test (DUT), with DUT control established by includingdriver software within the DUT and DUT-specific testing software withinthe tester. Such requirements for driver and testing software increasetesting complexity and time and thereby increase testing costs.

Additionally, continuing with the BLE example, the data packets used bya peripheral device to initiate a communication link can be transmittedon any of multiple (e.g., three) channels in random order. Unless atesting system knows in advance on which channel the DUT will transmit,it cannot deterministically transmit a responsive data packet on thatsame channel. This can significantly delay test time, or require someform of predetermined coding to be employed within the DUT, which wouldnegate the use of a generalized testing methodology.

Further with the BLE example, pending establishment of a communicationlink, a relatively long time interval exists between data packetsequences seeking to initiate a communication link. Meanwhile, duringthe link initiation sequence, initiating data packets are transmitted onthe multiple prescribed channels in rapid succession. It would beadvantageous if such rapid sequence of data packets could be used fortesting, and thereby derive more test data, faster, and reduce overalltest time.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the presently claimed invention, a method is providedfor testing a radio frequency (RF) data packet signal transceiver deviceunder test (DUT) including communicating via at least one of multipleavailable signal channels. Data packets exchanged between a tester andDUT as a normal part of a communication link initiation sequence areselectively exchanged and suppressed to enable testing of the DUTwithout requiring inclusion of special drivers within the DUT, specialtest software within the tester or establishment of a synchronizedcommunication link between the tester and DUT. For example, in the caseof a Bluetooth low energy transceiver, advertisement, scan request andscan response data packets can be used in such manner.

In accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention, amethod for testing a radio frequency (RF) data packet signal transceiverdevice under test (DUT) including communicating via at least one of aplurality of signal channels, includes:

receiving, with a tester via one of the plurality of signal channels, alink initiation data packet from the DUT;

transmitting, with the tester via the one of the plurality of signalchannels, a tester response data packet responsive to the linkinitiation data packet;

receiving, with the tester via the one of the plurality of signalchannels, a DUT response data packet responsive to the tester responsedata packet;

refraining, with the tester, from transmitting via the one of theplurality of signal channels another tester response data packetresponsive to the DUT response data packet; and

repeating at least

-   -   the receiving, with the tester via one of the plurality of        signal channels, a link initiation data packet from the DUT, and    -   the transmitting, with the tester via the one of the plurality        of signal channels, a tester response data packet responsive to        the link initiation data packet.

In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimedinvention, a method for testing a radio frequency (RF) data packetsignal transceiver device under test (DUT) including communicating viaat least one of a plurality of signal channels, includes:

transmitting, with a DUT via one of the plurality of signal channels, alink initiation data packet;

receiving, with the DUT via the one of the plurality of signal channels,a tester response data packet responsive to the link initiation datapacket;

transmitting, with the DUT via the one of the plurality of signalchannels, a DUT response data packet responsive to the tester responsedata packet;

failing, with the DUT, to receive via the one of the plurality of signalchannels another tester response data packet responsive to the DUTresponse data packet; and

repeating at least

-   -   the transmitting, with the DUT via one of the plurality of        signal channels, a link initiation data packet, and    -   the receiving, with the DUT via the one of the plurality of        signal channels, a tester response data packet responsive to the        link initiation data packet.

In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimedinvention, a method for testing a radio frequency (RF) data packetsignal transceiver device under test (DUT) including communicating viaat least one of a plurality of signal channels, includes:

transmitting, with a DUT via one of the plurality of signal channels, alink initiation data packet;

receiving, with a tester, the link initiation data packet and inresponse thereto transmitting, via the one of the plurality of signalchannels, a tester response data packet;

receiving, with the DUT, the tester response data packet and in responsethereto transmitting, via the one of the plurality of signal channels, aDUT response data packet;

receiving, with the tester, the DUT response data packet and in responsethereto refraining from transmitting via the one of the plurality ofsignal channels another tester response data packet; and

repeating at least

-   -   the transmitting, with the DUT via one of the plurality of        signal channels, a link initiation data packet,    -   the receiving, with the tester, the link initiation data packet,        and in response thereto transmitting, via the one of the        plurality of signal channels, a tester response data packet, and    -   the receiving, with the DUT, the tester response data packet and        in response thereto transmitting, via the one of the plurality        of signal channels, a DUT response data packet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a typical testing environment for a radio frequency (RF)data packet signal transceiver device under test (DUT) in a conductive,or wired, environment.

FIG. 2 depicts a typical testing environment for a RF DUT in aradiative, or wireless, environment.

FIG. 3 depicts a testing environment for a RF DUT in a wirelessenvironment in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the presentlyclaimed invention.

FIG. 4 depicts transmission of advertisement packets by a BLE DUT withno tester response.

FIG. 5 depicts exchanges of advertisement, scan request and scanresponse packets between a BLE DUT and tester in accordance withexemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict exchanges of advertisement, scan request and scanresponse packets between a BLE DUT and tester transmitting multiple scanrequest packets simultaneously in accordance with exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict exchanges of advertisement, scan request and scanresponse packets between a BLE DUT and tester transmitting multiple scanrequest packets simultaneously with varying power levels in accordancewith exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of example embodiments of thepresently claimed invention with references to the accompanyingdrawings. Such description is intended to be illustrative and notlimiting with respect to the scope of the present invention. Suchembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one of ordinaryskill in the art to practice the subject invention, and it will beunderstood that other embodiments may be practiced with some variationswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the subject invention.

Throughout the present disclosure, absent a clear indication to thecontrary from the context, it will be understood that individual circuitelements as described may be singular or plural in number. For example,the terms “circuit” and “circuitry” may include either a singlecomponent or a plurality of components, which are either active and/orpassive and are connected or otherwise coupled together (e.g., as one ormore integrated circuit chips) to provide the described function.Additionally, the term “signal” may refer to one or more currents, oneor more voltages, or a data signal. Within the drawings, like or relatedelements will have like or related alpha, numeric or alphanumericdesignators. Further, while the present invention has been discussed inthe context of implementations using discrete electronic circuitry(preferably in the form of one or more integrated circuit chips), thefunctions of any part of such circuitry may alternatively be implementedusing one or more appropriately programmed processors, depending uponthe signal frequencies or data rates to be processed. Moreover, to theextent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks ofvarious embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarilyindicative of the division between hardware circuitry.

Wireless devices, such as cellphones, smartphones, tablets, etc., makeuse of standards-based technologies (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 3GPPLTE, and Bluetooth). The standards that underlie these technologies aredesigned to provide reliable wireless connectivity and/orcommunications. The standards prescribe physical and higher-levelspecifications generally designed to be energy-efficient and to minimizeinterference among devices using the same or other technologies that areadjacent to or share the wireless spectrum.

Tests prescribed by these standards are meant to ensure that suchdevices are designed to conform to the standard-prescribedspecifications, and that manufactured devices continue to conform tothose prescribed specifications. Most devices are transceivers,containing at least one or more receivers and transmitters. Thus, thetests are intended to confirm whether the receivers and transmittersboth conform. Tests of the receiver or receivers (RX tests) of a DUTtypically involve a test system (tester) sending test packets to thereceiver(s) and some way of determining how the DUT receiver(s) respondto those test packets. Transmitters of a DUT are tested by having themsend packets to the test system, which then evaluates the physicalcharacteristics of the signals sent by the DUT.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical manufacturing test environment 10 aincludes a tester 12 and a DUT 16, with test data packet signals 21 tand DUT data packet signals 21 d exchanged as RF signals conveyedbetween the tester 12 and DUT 16 via a conductive signal path, typicallyin the form of co-axial RF cable 20 c and RF signal connectors 20 tc, 20dc. As noted above, the tester typically includes a signal source 14 g(e.g., a VSG) and a signal analyzer 14 a (e.g., a VSA). Also, asdiscussed above, the tester 12 and DUT 16 include preloaded informationregarding predetermined test sequences, typically embodied in firmware14 f within the tester 12 and firmware 18 f within the DUT 16. Asfurther noted above, the details within this firmware 14 f, 18 f aboutthe predetermined test flows typically requires some form of explicitsynchronization between the tester 12 and DUT 16, typically via the datapacket signals 21 t, 21 d.

Referring to FIG. 2, a typical test environment 10 b following finalassembly (after which, as noted above, a physical DUT signal connection20 dc is generally unavailable) uses a wireless signal path 20 b viawhich the test data packet signals 21 t and DUT data packet signals 21 dare communicated via respective antenna systems 20 ta, 20 da of thetester 12 and DUT 16.

The following discussion is presented in the context of a BLE device asthe DUT. However, it will be readily appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art that the principles and operation of the presentlyclaimed invention are also applicable to devices or systems in whichdata packets are exchanged as a normal part of a communication linkinitiation sequence. As is known and discussed below, in the case of aBLE transceiver, such data packets are in the form of advertisement,scan request and scan response data packets.

Referring to FIG. 3, testing methods in accordance with the presentlyclaimed invention for devices or systems that exchange data packets as anormal part of a communication link initiation sequence, such as BLEdevices and systems, are typically performed in a wireless testingenvironment. The DUT 16 includes a BLE subsystem or device 26 whichtransmits 21 d advertisement packets for reception by the tester 12(stage A). Following successful reception by the tester 12 of anadvertisement packet, the tester 12 transmits 21 t a scan request packet(stage B). Following successful reception by the BLE subsystem 26 of theDUT 16, the DUT 16 transmits 21 d a scan response packet (stage C).

These exchanges of such packets are prescribed within the signalstandard for BLE systems. Accordingly, the DUT 16 does not require anyspecial driver code (e.g., in either firmware or software form) nor doesthe tester 12 require any device-specific or otherwise or testingsoftware or firmware. Also, this interchange of packets occurs prior toand in the absence of a communication link having already beenestablished between the DUT 16 and tester 12. Accordingly, nocommunication profile is yet active and any BLE device can be promptedto interact with a tester in this way.

Referring to FIG. 4, in accordance with the BLE signal standard, a BLEdevice uses three channels (among 40 channels total) for devicediscovery and connection setup. These channels are located between thestandard wireless local area network channels (“Wi-Fi”) to minimizeinter-system interference. These channels are known as “advertising”channels and are used by the BLE system to search for other devices orpromote its own presence to devices that might be looking to make aconnection. The device transmits an advertisement packet, and then waitsfor a prescribed time interval to receive a scan request packet. If noscan request packet is received within that time interval, anotheradvertisement packet on a different channel is transmitted. Initialchannel selection is random, and each subsequent advertisement packet istransmitted on a different channel, until all three channels have beenused, following which this process repeats until a scan request packetis received and a communication link is established.

Accordingly, as shown by way of example here, the BLE device transmits afirst advertisement packet 21 aa on a randomly chosen channel, e.g.,channel 1. If no scan request packet is received in response, a secondadvertisement packet 21 ab is transmitted on another channel, e.g.,channel 2. Again, if no scan request packet is received within theprescribed time interval, a third advertisement packet 21 ac istransmitted on the remaining channel, e.g., channel 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, in accordance with exemplary embodiments, the DUTtransmits an advertisement packet 21 aa, which is correctly received bythe tester, and in response to which the tester transmits a scan requestpacket 21 qa. Responsive to successful reception of this scan requestpacket 21 qa, the DUT then transmits a scan response packet 21 ra. Thesepackets 21 aa, 21 qa, 21 ra are all transmitted on the same channel(channel 1, 2 or 3). If the tester refrains from sending any furtherpackets after the scan response packet 21 ra, the DUT will wait for aprescribed time interval for reception of further commands. If nofurther commands are received within that time interval, the DUT resumessending advertisement packets 21 ab, 21 ac, 21 ad at successivespecified advertisement intervals on respective ones of the threeadvertisement channels in close-order succession.

Hence, for example as shown here, the DUT transmits a secondadvertisement packet 21 ab, receives a scan request packet 21 qb andresponds with a scan response packet 21 rb. However, when the DUT sendsa third advertisement packet 21 ac, the tester in this example transmitsscan request packet 21 qc with a reduced signal power, which fails to bereceived by the DUT. Accordingly, the DUT transmits no scan responsepacket. Then, after the prescribed time interval 23, the DUT againresumes operation by sending a fourth advertisement packet 21 ad.

As can be seen by this operation, a tester can use the BLE standardprotocol to elicit from a DUT one or more scan response packets at oneof the three prescribed advertisement packet frequencies. Such scanresponse packets transmitted by the DUT can be viewed as analogous to“acknowledgement” (ACK) packets used in Wi-Fi systems (as per the IEE802.11 standard), which can be used to test Wi-Fi transmitter signalcharacteristics (e.g., signal power levels and data encoding).Similarly, in this context, the tester here can use these scan responsepackets to determine how many scan request packets transmitted by thetester were received by the DUT. The ratio of received scan responsepackets to transmitted scan requests packets can be used to derive aneffective packet error rate (PER).

Further, by varying the power level of the scan request packettransmitted by the tester, variations in the number of scan responsepackets received will result, and can be used to determine sensitivityof the BLE receiver within the DUT, similar to performing PER testing ofa Wi-Fi receiver, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/959,354 filed on Aug. 5, 2013, and published as U.S. Pat. Pub.2015/0036729, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Hence, the tester can obtain useful information about the DUTreceiver sensitivity within a short test time. Further, the tester mayanalyze signal qualities of the scan response packets, as well as theadvertisement packets, such as frequency, power level, modulation, etc.,to determine the quality of performance by the DUT transmitter.

In any event, these tests can be conducted using a conventional tester,e.g., with conventional VSA and VSG systems, without need for specialdriver code within the DUT or device-specific testing software for thetester.

Referring to FIG. 6, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments,testing can be simplified and expedited using a broadband transmitterwithin the tester (e.g., a broadband VSG), thereby avoiding a need forthe receiver within the tester (e.g., a VSA) to quickly determine thechannel on which the DUT is transmitting its advertisement packet. Forexample, in response to receiving the advertisement packet 21 a from theDUT, e.g., on channel 2, the tester transmits a group 21 q of scanrequest packets 21 qa, 21 qb, 21 qc, with each scan request packet 21qa, 21 qb, 21 qc transmitted on a respective one of the threeadvertisement packet channels using the broadband transmittercapability. As a result, the DUT will receive a response scan requestpacket on all three advertisement channels (i.e., the channel actuallyused for the advertisement packet 21 a as well as the other two channelsnot used), thereby ensuring that the DUT, in turn, responds bytransmitting a scan response packet 21 r on the same channel on whichthe original advertisement packet 21 a was transmitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, this technique of responding to advertisementpackets with scan request packets on all channels ensures thatregardless of which channel on which the DUT transmits the initialadvertisement packet 21 a, in this case on channel 1, the DUT willreceive, in response, a scan request packet on the same channel (as wellas on the unused channels). As a result, the DUT will then complete thecommunication link initiation sequence by responding, in turn, with ascan response packet 21 r on the same channel. Hence, regardless whichof the three prescribed channels is used by the DUT to transmits itsinitial advertisement packet 21 a, the tester, by responding with a scanrequest packet on all available advertisement channels, will be able toelicit a scan response packet 21 r from the DUT, so long as the DUT isperforming properly and the scan request packet 21 q power is sufficientto be received correctly by the DUT.

In a related manner, the tester can employ a wideband receiver (e.g.,VSA) to detect and correctly receive the advertisement 21 a and scanresponse 21 r packets. Even if such receiver is unable to determine, inreal time, the channel over which the interactions are occurring, thereceived packets, once captured, can be used later, e.g., withdownstream systems or processing, to determine the channel duringpost-capture processing.

In those instances where signal path loss varies with the advertisementchannel frequency, the transmitted packet power can be varied with anoffset that is sufficient to ensure that the received signal power atthe DUT is sufficient for each of the three advertisement channels.

Referring to FIG. 8, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments,the techniques discussed above of transmitting scan request packets atvaried signal powers and transmitting multiple scan request packetssimultaneously via different channels can be used in combination(s). Forexample, responsive to a first advertisement packet 21 aa (e.g., onchannel 2), the tester can transmit scan request packets on all channelssimultaneously, as discussed above, at a reduced power level intended toprevent successful reception by the DUT. As a result, the DUT, after theprescribed time interval, transmits a second advertisement packet 21 abon a different channel (e.g., on channel 1). The tester detects thisadvertisement packet 21 ab and responds by transmitting a second set ofscan request packets 21 qb on all channels simultaneously, this time ata higher power level. However, this higher power level is stillinsufficient to ensure successful reception by the DUT. Accordingly, theDUT, again after the prescribed time interval, transmits a thirdadvertisement packet 21 ac on another different channel (e.g., on theremaining channel 3), in response to which the tester transmits a thirdset 21 qc of scan request packets, this time at a still higher powerlevel. This power level is now sufficient to ensure successful receptionby the DUT, which responds with a scan response packet 21 r on the samechannel (e.g., channel 3) as used for the most recent exchange ofadvertisement packet 21 ac and scan request packets 21 qc.

Consequently, three different power levels for the scan request packetsare used for testing the ability of the DUT receiver to successfullyreceive such scan request packets. While the first two sets 21 qa, 21 qbof scan request packets were too low in power, the third set 21 qc wasof sufficient power to elicit a scan response packet 21 r. Accordingly,this test can effectively yield three results from a single operation.Since noise adds to this system and cannot be entirely prevented, itcannot be concluded as to what actual power level constitutes athreshold above which the DUT will be ensured to successfully receiveall scan request packets. Further statistical results will be needed todetermine this. Accordingly, multiple test like this can be performed todetermine a statistical distribution that identifies or is otherwiseindicative of such threshold.

Referring to FIG. 9, as part of arriving at such a statisticaldistribution, the scan request packets sets 21 qa, 21 qb can betransmitted with power levels such that only two power levels are neededto elicit a scan response packet. For example, while the first set 21 qaof scan request packets has a power level insufficient to ensuresuccessful reception by the DUT, the second set 21 qb can be transmittedwith a power level between the power levels of the second and third setsof scan request packets as identified in the previous example (FIG. 8).This can advantageously further reduce the time between test results,e.g., if a connection request is received, since the time betweensequential advertisement packets is significantly shorter than the timebetween the onset of a new advertisement packet sequence in the absenceof an established communication link. (However, in some instances athird advertisement packet may still be transmitted, e.g., if there isno event following a scan response packet, in which case three testresults would still be obtained.)

In any event, performing these packet exchanges with varying powerlevels enables formation of a statistical database. Further, by properlychoosing the varied packet power levels it is possible to more quicklyconverge on the statistical power level at which half of the scanrequest packets are received correctly and elicit corresponding scanresponse packets. According, if the power levels chosen are all belowthis sensitivity point, the DUT will send subsequent advertisementpackets in quick succession. This enables the setting of new values forthe power level when sending the scan request packet without having towait over the longer duration before a new advertisement packet sequenceis initiated.

Various other modifications and alterations in the structure and methodof operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.Although the invention has been described in connection with specificpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention asclaimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It isintended that the following claims define the scope of the presentinvention and that structures and methods within the scope of theseclaims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) datapacket signal transceiver device under test (DUT) includingcommunicating via at least one of a plurality of signal channels,comprising: receiving, with a tester via one of said plurality of signalchannels, a link initiation data packet from said DUT; transmitting,with said tester via said one of said plurality of signal channels, atester response data packet responsive to said link initiation datapacket; receiving, with said tester via said one of said plurality ofsignal channels, a DUT response data packet responsive to said testerresponse data packet; refraining, with said tester, from transmittingvia said one of said plurality of signal channels another testerresponse data packet responsive to said received DUT response datapacket; and repeating receiving, with said tester via one of saidplurality of signal channels, another link initiation data packet fromsaid DUT, and transmitting, with said tester via said one of saidplurality of signal channels, another tester response data packetresponsive to said another link initiation data packet.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said repeating results in said receiving andtransmitting, with said tester, via at least first and second ones ofsaid plurality of signal channels.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein:said DUT comprises a Bluetooth low energy device; said link initiationdata packet comprises an advertisement data packet; said tester responsedata packet comprises a scan request data packet; and said DUT responsedata packet comprises a scan response data packet.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: said transmitting, with said tester via said one ofsaid plurality of signal channels, said tester response data packetresponsive to said link initiation data packet comprises transmittingsaid tester response data packet with a first signal power; and saidrepeating of transmitting, with said tester via said one of saidplurality of signal channels, said another tester response data packetresponsive to said another link initiation data packet comprisestransmitting said another tester response data packet with a secondsignal power less than said first signal power.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein said DUT response data packet includes a plurality of signalcharacteristics, and further comprising analyzing, with said tester, atleast one of said plurality of signal characteristics.
 6. A method fortesting a radio frequency (RF) data packet signal transceiver deviceunder test (DUT) including communicating via at least one of a pluralityof signal channels, comprising: transmitting, with said DUT via one ofsaid plurality of signal channels, a link initiation data packet;receiving, with said DUT via said one of said plurality of signalchannels, a tester response data packet responsive to said linkinitiation data packet; transmitting, with said DUT via said one of saidplurality of signal channels, a DUT response data packet responsive tosaid tester response data packet; failing, with said DUT, to receive viasaid one of said plurality of signal channels another tester responsedata packet responsive to said transmitted DUT response data packet; andrepeating transmitting, with said DUT via one of said plurality ofsignal channels, another link initiation data packet, and receiving,with said DUT via said one of said plurality of signal channels, anothertester response data packet responsive to said another link initiationdata packet.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said repeating results insaid transmitting and receiving, with said DUT, via at least first andsecond ones of said plurality of signal channels.
 8. The method of claim6, wherein: said DUT comprises a Bluetooth low energy device; said linkinitiation data packet comprises an advertisement data packet; saidtester response data packet comprises a scan request data packet; andsaid DUT response data packet comprises a scan response data packet. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein: said receiving, with said DUT via saidone of said plurality of signal channels, a tester response data packetresponsive to said link initiation data packet comprises receiving saidtester response data packet with a first signal power; and saidrepeating of receiving, with said DUT via said one of said plurality ofsignal channels, another tester response data packet responsive toanother link initiation data packet comprises receiving said anothertester response data packet with a second signal power less than saidfirst signal power.
 10. A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) datapacket signal transceiver device under test (DUT) includingcommunicating via at least one of a plurality of signal channels,comprising: transmitting, with said DUT via one of said plurality ofsignal channels, a link initiation data packet; receiving, with atester, said link initiation data packet and in response theretotransmitting, via said one of said plurality of signal channels, atester response data packet; receiving, with said DUT, said testerresponse data packet and in response thereto transmitting, via said oneof said plurality of signal channels, a DUT response data packet;receiving, with said tester, said DUT response data packet and inresponse thereto refraining from transmitting via said one of saidplurality of signal channels another tester response data packet; andrepeating transmitting, with said DUT via one of said plurality ofsignal channels, a link initiation data packet, receiving, with saidtester, another link initiation data packet, and in response theretotransmitting, via said one of said plurality of signal channels, anothertester response data packet, and receiving, with said DUT, said anothertester response data packet and in response thereto transmitting, viasaid one of said plurality of signal channels, another DUT response datapacket.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said repeating results insaid transmitting, with said DUT and said tester, via at least first andsecond ones of said plurality of signal channels.
 12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein said repeating results in said transmitting, with saidDUT, via at least first and second ones of said plurality of signalchannels.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein: said DUT comprises aBluetooth low energy device; said link initiation data packet comprisesan advertisement data packet; said tester response data packet comprisesa scan request data packet; and said DUT response data packet comprisesa scan response data packet.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein: saidtransmitting, with said tester via said one of said plurality of signalchannels, said tester response data packet comprises transmitting saidtester response data packet with a first signal power; and saidrepeating of transmitting, with said tester via said one of saidplurality of signal channels, said another tester response data packetcomprises transmitting said another tester response data packet with asecond signal power less than said first signal power.
 15. The method ofclaim 10, wherein: said receiving, with said DUT, said tester responsedata packet comprises receiving said tester response data packet with afirst signal power; and said repeating of receiving, with said DUT, saidanother tester response data packet comprises receiving said anothertester response data packet with a second signal power less than saidfirst signal power.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein said DUTresponse data packet includes a plurality of signal characteristics, andfurther comprising analyzing, with said tester, at least one of saidplurality of signal characteristics.